Read Doug’s articles originally printed in The Jerusalem Post.
Profile Perspectives
Proper financial planning can change your relationship with money.
3 Important Things to Do before the New Fiscal Year
Avoid some common financial problems by considering these three points before the new fiscal year begins:
Review your financial plan
No matter how accurate your financial plan was when it was created, things change. Review your plan now and make sure it still addresses your current risk tolerance and needs. … Read more
I Don’t Feel Inflation. Is it Hurting My Savings?
Inflation doesn’t hit like the sting of a credit card bill from an overzealous shopping trip. Rather, its bite is slow and painful.
Because the price level of goods and services tends to rise gradually, inflation’s slow incursion on your pocketbook is commonly described as ‘creeping up’ on you.
Good versus bad inflation
Inflation is most noticeable when it rises faster than your salary,… Read more
Israeli Pension Plans
Israeli law requires that full-time workers who have worked for longer than six months receive a pension plan through their employers. This is part of the government’s plan of making sure individuals have private pensions to supplement their governmental pensions. Pensions are a highly regulated field, and as such the details are in constant flux…. Read more
How to Manage a Multi-Currency Lifestyle
Multicurrency strategies are part of the everyday life of most dual citizens.
If you are balancing your investment account in U.S. dollars but recording your grocery and rent expenses in shekels, you’re probably an American oleh.
The following three areas make currency volatility a real challenge for cross-border investors:
Currency trading
Two-thirds of retail foreign exchange traders lose money…. Read more
Corporate or Treasury Bonds-Which Bonds are Better?
Corporate and Treasury bonds can help you turn your nest egg into an income stream. In fact, generating a steady income stream to supplement your pension may be one of the hardest parts of retirement.
Bonds have a set interest rate and they usually pay twice a year so you know exactly how much income you should receive and when you can expect to receive it…. Read more
What is the Best Way to Reduce Risk in Your Portfolio
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a fail-proof way to reduce risk in your retirement portfolio?
Any investment ad worth its weight in gold has a disclaimer, “All investments are subject to risk.” That is because risk is the operative term when it comes to investing. In theory,… Read more
Which Is More Important: Steady Income or Potential Growth
Retirees often include bonds in their retirement portfolio because of their perceived safety and the consistent income they provide. However, while bonds play a valuable role in a retiree’s portfolio, it is important to fully understand how they work before buying them.
Holding bonds may reduce potential growth
If your goal is to leave an inheritance to your children when you pass away,… Read more
Does Investor Bias Make You Underperform the Market?
A friend recently had a losing streak at the casino. Instead of walking away, he played more hands of blackjack. “I was determined to win,” he lamented. In fact, he was playing to recoup his losses.
He was a victim of investment biases subconsciously affecting his decision-making. Gambler’s Fallacy – the belief that after a streak of losses his luck would turn – duped him into doubling his losses…. Read more
Should You Follow Investment Trends or Bet against the Masses?
Today, many “investment trend” websites are enticing online traders to join. Investors who follow the trend – also known as “momentum trading” – invest in stocks based on rising market prices rather than company fundamentals.
The strategy of following the investment trend performs best in a bull market. However, selling before the trend reverses is a skill that eludes most investors…. Read more
Do You Look at the Risk-Reward Ratio of Your Stocks and Bonds?
The risk-reward ratio is an attempt to quantify the amount of risk you need to take in order to get an anticipated return from any investment.
If you were to only consider past returns when deciding whether to invest in stocks or bonds, stocks would appear to be the clear winner…. Read more